Just a quick blog here, about Scotty Bowman’s move to the Blackhawks as an advisor. Hard as it is for me still to believe, Scotty is somebody I’ve gotten to know over the years. It’s still hard to believe his name is on the cover of a book I wrote, introducing it.
I’m glad he’s going to Chicago to be closer to his son, Stan (named after the Cup, of course). It has been a somewhat closely held fact that Stan has been battling cancer the last couple years, and it’s been a tough fight.
But Stan seems to be doing pretty well now, and it’s going to be tremendous for his father to be able to work with him now.

I interviewed Stan a lot for my book, “Blood Feud”, and he told some great stories about Scotty, including how he would blow off steam after losses – when he coached in Buffalo – by grooming and tending to the rink he built in the back yard for his children. And, how he would let Stan listen in to his phone calls to people around the NHL, talking shop about trades and players and everything else – and would occasionally ask Stan for his opinion on hockey matters.

Now, father and son are back to helping each other on hockey matters, all for the same team. It’s a great story, and I’m sure you’ll be reading more about it in the coming months. Scotty told me probably over a year ago that he might go to Chicago, but not to say anything about it, in respect to the Red Wings and his son.

Scotty’s beloved wife, Suella, is from Illinois as well. I think it’s pretty neat how Scotty Bowman is beginning work for his third Original 6 team as well. I’m sure there have been players who played for three, but have there been any front office people? I’m sure there have, but I’m drawing a blank at the moment. (Well, I just thought of Mike Keenan, who coached the Rangers, Bruins and Blackhawks).

Scotty is going to a team that should be damn good this year – a bona fide Cup contender, it seems on paper at least. They signed Brian Campbell, have Khabibulin and Huet as their top two goalies and have two of the best young forwards in the game, in Toews and Kane.

If the Hawks don’t win a Cup this year (and if they do, it will be Scotty’s record-setting 13th as a coach or front office person), let’s hope for a continued recovery for Stan Bowman.

I wish every hockey fan could have at least one conversation about hockey with Scotty Bowman. I’m telling you, there is absolutely nothing like it. It’s like you are talking to the actual NHL itself – if it could be humanized – when you do. He’s done it all, he’s seen it all, and he remembers it all.

And don’t kid yourself: Scotty still knows more about what’s going on in the game, in his little pinkie, than 95 percent of the rest of the current GMs in the league. The Blackhawks just got a LOT better with his arrival.

Terry Frei graduated from Wheat Ridge High School in the Denver area and has degrees in history and journalism from the University of Colorado-Boulder. He worked for the Rocky Mountain News while attending CU and joined the Post staff after graduation. He has also worked at the Oregonian in Portland, Ore., and The Sporting News. His seventh book, March 1939: Before the Madness, was issued in February 2014.

Chambers covers college and professional hockey for The Denver Post. He has written for the Post since 1994, after dumping his first 9-to-5 office job a couple years out of college. He primarily follows the University of Denver hockey team and helps cover the Avalanche.